Abril Lamarque Collection

Collection

Identifier: 1999-026

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

Collection contains correspondence between Abril Lamarque and Pulitzer Prize winner Lester Markel, correspondence between Lamarque and numerous editors about layout and layout workshops, material for his editorial layout workshops including visual overhead cells, slides, script for the slide show, examples and problems for the workshop participants, drafts of Lamarque’s book Abril Lamarque on Layout Design, notes on rules of layout at length, bound magazines which Lamarque helped design layout for, typographic manuals, and publications on layout and layout design.

Dates

1908 - 1987

Creator

Lamarque, Abril, 1904-1999. (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open for research use. Manuscript collections and archival records may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations, the Oklahoma Open Records Act (http://www.odl.state.ok.us/lawinfo/docs/2006-LibraryLaws-PartE.pdf), and other relevant regulations. Confidential material may include, but is not limited to, educational, medical, and personnel records. Researchers are advised that the disclosure of certain information pertaining to identifiable living individuals represented in this collection without the consent of those individuals may have legal ramifications (e.g., a cause of action under common law for invasion of privacy may arise if facts concerning an individual's private life are published that would be deemed highly offensive to a reasonable person) for which Oklahoma State University Libraries assumes no responsibility.

Conditions Governing Use

The researcher assumes full responsibility for conforming with the laws of copyright. Whenever possible, Oklahoma State University Archives will provide information about copyright owners and related information. Securing permission to publish or use material is the responsibility of the researcher. Note that unless specifically transferred to Oklahoma State University Libraries, any applicable copyrights may be held by another individual or entity. Copyright for material published by Oklahoma Agricultural and Mechanical College/Oklahoma State University is held by the Board of Regents for the Oklahoma Agricultural and Mechanical Colleges. All rights reserved.

Further information about copyright policy can be obtained by contacting Oklahoma State University Archives by email at libscua@okstate.edu or by phone at 405-744-6311.

Biographical Sketch

Abril Lamarque (1904-1999) worked nationally towards the advancement of modern typography and magazine layout. His work included the redesign and art direction for The New York Times Magazine, the New York Times Book Review, Popular Science, The U. S. News and World Report, and many other national magazine publications. Outside of his work in art direction he also lectured across the nation to editors of all types at his one to three day Abril Lamarque Editorial Layout Workshops. These he started while working as a teacher for New York University’s Journalism Department. Before he started in magazine layout, Lamarque was a published cartoonist and successful illustrator for newspapers and magazines.

Eduardo Abril Lamarque changed many faces in during his lifetime and career. First, he shrugged off the first name Eduardo to avoid any confusion between him and his uncle, also named Eduardo, who was also in the publishing and newspaper business. Lamarque’s specialty lay in editorial layout, specifically magazine layout, although he pursued many different areas within the world of print. Abril Lamarque started his career as a cartoonist and illustrator. Later, he created the first Spanish-language comic strip that was not merely a translation from English. This strip ran daily in newspapers throughout Latin America. Lamarque used his artistic and illustrative abilities to launch himself into art direction and advertisement design.

At 23 Lamarque found himself hired as the first art director for the Dell Publishing magazine empire for which he oversaw artists, staged photos, and drew most of the illustrations in more than 20 magazines. Lamarque became the first Sunday art director of The New York Times under Pulitzer Prize winner Lester Markel, editor of the Times from 1923 to 1965. He restyled the Times Magazine out of its tabloid format and into a more appropriate magazine format. While on with the Times he restyled The New York Times Book Review before leaving in 1946 to design The World Report (later merged with U. S. News). Lamarque established a graphic arts studio in New York in 1948 from which he offered various design and publication services for large corporations such as Bacardi and Metropolitan Life among others.

Besides his design work, Lamarque became a widely employed lecturer in his self-designed Editorial Layout Workshops. He started his workshops under the New York University School of Continuing Education. Each workshop attempted to improve or teach magazine layout and the use of typography in publication design. Some companies, like The Sporting News, employed his services more than once for their editors outside of the personal help he gave their publication.

Lamarque practiced as an amateur magician, and he received requests for help in this area from his editor and friend Max Batchelder when they were not discussing design or editorial issues. Lamarque belonged to the Dutch Treat Club, was a Life Member of the Society of Illustrators and also of the Art Directors Club in New York. He worked closely and personally with Lester Markel and did not hesitate to challenge the current layout or direction of the New York Times Magazine under Markel. Lamarque’s notes and layout principles are as broad as his handlebar mustache. He covered all the basics and knew all the details of typography and layout and outlined them in the notes for his Editorial Layout Workshops.

Extent

18.62 Linear feet (6 record storage boxes, 5 letter size document boxes, 17 phase boxes, 1 flat box)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Arrangement

Arranged into two series.

Location

For current information on the location of these materials, please consult the Library's online catalog or contact the Oklahom State University Archives Reference staff.